Abstract:

The invention relates to an electronic short messaging and advertising
method where minimal initiative is required from the consumer. Some
embodiments of the invention may also be applied to an electronic sales
method. The invention may also be applied for normal short messaging. The
electronic short messaging method for collect calling may send
transmissions to at least one subscriber terminal via the Internet and/or
the telephony network. The method may include sending a first
transmission to a recipient subscriber terminal for display, wherein the
first transmission defines one or more active alternatives including at
least one of initiating a collect call and deleting the transmission. In
some embodiments, unless the collect call is initiated, the first
transmission is automatically deleted after reception after a predefined
time period.

Claims:

1. An electronic short messaging method for collect calling by sending
transmissions to at least one subscriber terminal via the Internet and/or
the telephony network, the method comprising:sending a first transmission
to a recipient subscriber terminal for display, the first transmission
defining one or more active alternatives including at least one of
initiating a collect call and deleting the transmission, wherein unless
the collect call is initiated, the first transmission is automatically
deleted after reception after a predefined time period.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a second
transmission that is associated with the first transmission, wherein the
second transmission includes attributes including at least one of further
actions to initiate the collect call and a state of the first
transmission.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the further actions include
connecting to at least one of a telephone number, an IP-address, and a
URL related to the collect call.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recipient subscriber
terminal is one of a computer, a Personal Digital Assistant and a UMTS,
GSM, WAP, Teldesic, Inmarsat, Iridium, GPRS, CDMA or WCDMA mobile
station, or a combination thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein bits associated with at least
one of transmission and reception of the first transmission and connected
minutes are calculated.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising initiating a
financial transaction with the recipient on the basis of at least one of
the bits and connected minutes.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission is at
least one of an SMS transmission, a CB transmission, a USSD transmission,
a PDS transmission, a WAPPush transmission, and an email, and is embedded
with at least one of a phone number, an IP-address, and a URL-address.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission is at
least one of an MMS transmission, an SMS transmission, a DTMF-tone, and a
FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, or UDP data transfer and is embedded with at
least one of a phone number, an IP-address, a URL-address, and a Session
Initiation Protocol address.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collect call is initiated
by pressing a dedicated key on the recipient subscriber terminal.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first
transmission is displayed on the recipient subscriber terminal in place
of at least one of a telephony network operator logo and a network cell
logo.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first
transmission is popped-up on a display of the recipient subscriber
terminal at least one of instantly and within a defined period upon
arrival to the recipient subscriber terminal.

13. An electronic short messaging device for collect calling, comprising:a
transmitter and receiver structured to communicate using at least one of
a packet switched connection and telephony network connection;at least
one display device; anda processor structured to identify incoming
transmissions and process the transmissions for displaying at least a
part of the content of the transmission on the display device directly or
at predetermined intervals,wherein the processor is further structured to
process a first transmission of the transmissions, the first transmission
defining one or more active alternatives including at least one of
initiating a collect call and deleting the transmission, wherein unless
the collect call is initiated, the first transmission is automatically
deleted after reception after a predefined time period.

14. The electronic short messaging device according to claim 13, wherein
the processor is embodied on a SIM card.

15. The electronic short messaging device according to claim 13, wherein
the electronic short messaging device is one of a computer, a Personal
Digital Assistant and a UMTS, GSM, WAP, Teldesic, Inmarsat, Iridium,
GPRS, CDMA or WCDMA mobile station, or a combination thereof.

16. The electronic short messaging device according to claim 13, wherein
the electronic short messaging device operates using at least one of
Microsoft Windows, Windows NT, Windows CE, Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, Palm
OS and an Epoc operating system.

17. The electronic short messaging device according to claim 13, wherein
the collect call is initiated by pressing a dedicated key on the
recipient subscriber terminal.

18. A computer readable medium for collect calling, the computer readable
medium including instructions executable by a computer, the instructions
for sending a first transmission as a request for a collect call to a
recipient subscriber terminal for display on said recipient subscriber
terminal.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the
instructions are further for sending a second transmission that is
associated with the first transmission, wherein the second transmission
includes attributes including at least one of further actions to initiate
the collect call and a state of the first transmission.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the
further actions include connecting to at least one of a telephone number,
an IP-address, and a URL related to the collect call.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
11/979,141 filed Oct. 31, 2007, now U.S. Application Publication No.
20080064426, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]The invention relates to an electronic short messaging method and
means, suitable, for example, for advertising. In particular the
invention relates to an electronic advertising method including a collect
calling feature, where minimal initiative is required from the consumer.
Some embodiments of the invention may also be applied to an electronic
sales method. The invention may be also applied for normal short
messaging.

[0004]The related art has several disadvantages. The response to both
types of advertisements requires active participation from the consumer.
A hyperlink needs to be identified and clicked. A telephone number needs
to be entered to a mobile station by copying it from the SMS message or
by entering it manually. The SMS advertiser typically wants to be
contacted by telephone, because the user holds a telephone. The email
advertiser wants the user to visit a URL address, because the user is
using a computer.

[0005]The purpose of the invention is to remove the aforementioned
disadvantages. The invention requires zero initiative from the user to
respond to a short message or an advertisement. Whether the advertisement
is communicated by SMS or email makes no difference to the referral.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]Most or all of the aforementioned advantages of the invention are
implemented with exemplary embodiments of the invention, in which a
message, like an email or an SMS message is sent to a subscriber
terminal. Preferably, software on the subscriber terminal recognizes the
arrival of the email or SMS-message from a unique identifier. A part of
the message displaying an advertisement is displayed to the screen of the
subscriber terminal, like "New Pirelli tires 100 dollars, interested
Yes/No?" By pressing a dedicated key for "No" the message is deleted and
the screen returns to the normal state. By pressing a dedicated key for
"Yes" the subscriber terminal connects to an IP-address or an URL where
the advertising is continued by displaying web pages, video and/or audio
depicting the advertisement. Alternatively the subscriber terminal dials
a telephone number to a sales representative. The subscriber terminal may
also form a packet switched real time communication connection to a sales
representative through the Internet.

[0007]It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic
short messaging method for collect calling by sending transmissions to at
least one subscriber terminal via the Internet and/or the telephony
network. The method may include sending a first transmission to a
recipient subscriber terminal for display, wherein the first transmission
defines one or more active alternatives including at least one of
initiating a collect call and deleting the transmission. In some
embodiments, unless the collect call is initiated, the first transmission
is automatically deleted after reception after a predefined time period.

[0008]In one exemplary embodiment, the first transmission defines
automatic deletion after a predefined time period after reception unless
one of the active alternatives is selected.

[0009]In another exemplary embodiment, after a predefined period, a second
transmission is sent to the recipient subscriber terminal unless the
first alternative is selected, said second transmission removing the
first transmission from display.

[0010]It is a further object of the present invention to provide an
electronic short messaging device for collect calling. The electronic
short message device may comprise: a transmitter and receiver structured
to communicate using at least one of a packet switched connection and
telephony network connection; at least one display device; and a
processor structured to identify incoming transmissions and process the
transmissions for displaying at least a part of the content of the
transmission on the display device directly or at predetermined
intervals, wherein the processor is further structured to process a first
transmission of the transmissions, the first transmission defining one or
more active alternatives including at least one of initiating a collect
call and deleting the transmission, wherein unless the collect call is
initiated, the first transmission is automatically deleted after
reception after a predefined time period.

[0011]It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a
computer readable medium for collect calling, the computer readable
medium including computer-executable instructions, the instructions for:
A computer readable medium for collect calling, the computer readable
medium including instructions executable by a computer, the instructions
for sending a first transmission as a request for a collect call to a
recipient subscriber terminal for display on said recipient subscriber
terminal. It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a computer readable medium for collect calling, the computer readable
medium including computer-executable instructions, the instructions for:
sending a first transmission as a request for a collect call to a
recipient subscriber terminal for display on said recipient subscriber
terminal.

[0012]In an exemplary embodiment, the computer readable medium may further
include instructions for receiving a second transmission that is
associated with the first transmission, wherein the second transmission
includes attributes including at least one of further actions to initiate
the collect call and a state of the first transmission.

[0013]In another exemplary embodiment of the computer readable medium, the
further actions include connecting to at least one of a telephone number,
an IP-address, and a URL related to the collect call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]In the following the invention will be described in greater detail
with reference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the
accompanying drawings, in which

[0015]FIG. 1 presents one exemplary embodiment of the invention as a flow
diagram.

[0016]FIG. 2 presents a more general embodiment of the invention as a flow
diagram.

[0017]FIG. 3 presents a more developed embodiment of the invention as a
flow diagram.

[0018]FIG. 4 presents a more developed embodiment of the invention as a
flow diagram.

[0020]In phase 110 of FIG. 1 a message is sent to the recipient subscriber
terminal typically by SMS (Short Message Service), SMS containing a
bitmap, MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) or email. In some preferable
embodiments, the subscriber terminal is typically a PC computer, Apple
Macintosh computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a UMTS-, GSM-,
WAP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-, GPS- and/or WCDMA
mobile station. Typically in some preferable embodiments, the subscriber
terminal is a device using either the Microsoft Windows, Windows NT,
Windows CE, Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, Palm OS or the Epoc operating
system. In many preferable embodiments several default facilities of the
operating system are used to realize the inventive method.

[0021]In some preferable embodiments all messages may be delivered to the
same inbox. The recipient views the message from the inbox. The message
will contain a referral like "Pirelli tyres 100$, interested Y/N?, if yes
please press X." Once the user presses X, or any other dedicated key
depicted by the message, he is connected to the original sender of the
message in phase 140. If he does something else, or nothing for some
time, the message may be deleted or postponed.

[0022]In some mobile device, there is a pair of key buttons for selecting
the bioptional alternatives the normal operation of the mobile device
involves. For example mobile telephones or PDAs have this kind of key
button pairs. This pair of keys is advantageously used for selecting the
bioptional alternatives of messages in accordance with the invention.

[0023]A telephone connection may be formed automatically on the basis of
the Caller ID. In some embodiments a hyperlink, IP address and/or URL
address of the sender may be designated in the message and thus contacted
through the Internet in accordance with the inventive method. In some
preferable embodiments of the invention a pop-up function is defined in
the message. Once the message is received it is instantly popped up on
the subscriber terminal screen. For example in a smartphone containing
two displays, like the Nokia Communicator, the message or some parts of
it is popped up on both or either displays. In a PC, the message is
popped on the screen once the messages have been downloaded. In a GSM
mobile station the message or some parts of it are displayed in place of
the operator or cell logo or both. In both preferable embodiments
typically software is required to identify the message, and pop it on the
screen. In some preferable embodiments the software is able to identify
embedded phone numbers, IP-addresses and/or URL addresses. Once "Yes" for
the message is indicated, this aforementioned embedded directory
information is read from the message and transferred to the
communications part of the subscriber terminal.

[0024]After the user has been connected to the sender, he views, listens
to and/or registers for proceedings in phase 150. In some preferable
embodiments the proceedings may be a further advertisement on a web page,
an audio and/or video presentation, a conversation with a sales
representative and/or a registration for the receipt of further
information later by post, telephone, SMS and/or email.

[0025]In some preferable embodiments this is used to automate collect
calls. If a person sends a message of the type: "Please call me Y/N?",
the recipient may launch a collect call by one press of a dedicated key.
In these preferable embodiments the arrival of the message typically
launches a ring tone.

[0026]In some embodiments the method 10 is realized in a GSM network by
sending a message in place of the operator logo on the terminal display.
Alternatively SMS-CB (Cell Broadcast), USSD (Unstructured Supplementary
Service Data), PDS (Packet Data on Signalling Channels) or WAPPush may be
used to display the message directly on the screen. This message may
contain instructions on an action to be taken if the logical response of
the user is "Yes", for example it may contain a telephone number to which
the user is connected, or it may trigger an SMS message from the user or
a request for an SMS from the network or sender by USSD, SMS, or the
like. A further message, linked to the original message of SMS, USSD,
SMS-CB (Cell Broadcast) may be sent with the original message to contain
these instructions in some embodiments.

[0027]Upon any stage the network may also destroy or change the said
message by sending another message. In one embodiment, for example if the
position of the user changes, the HLR/VLR (Home/Visitor Location
Register) or an external location server may prompt the network or an
external messaging server to send a new message to update the message on
the terminal screen, or to delete the message on the terminal screen. A
necessary change of position may be for example leaving or entering a
cell.

[0028]In FIG. 2 the message is sent to the recipient subscriber terminal
in phase 210. The recipient views the message in phase 220. In addition
to SMS or email, the message can be delivered by FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP,
UDP or by some other direct transfer protocol, and a "pop-up" software
recognizes the said transmissions or messages at the subscriber terminal.

[0029]In phase 230 the message provides the user with the option to
proceed with further information related to the referral like "Pirelli
tyres 100$, interested Y/N? Please press Y to proceed!" If the user
chooses to press the designated key, Y in this case, he is connected to a
third party designated by the message in phase 240.

[0030]If he does something else or nothing for some time, the process is
terminated and the message is deleted or postponed. In some preferable
embodiments this is done by moving the message to the "Recycle bin" of
the operating system of the subscriber terminal.

[0031]If the user chooses "Yes" by pressing a dedicated key or otherwise,
he is connected to a third party designated by the message in phase 240.
The message may have embedded phone numbers, IP-addresses, URL-addresses,
ISDN-, FTP-, email-, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)-addresses and/or
other electronic directories to which the user is connected in some
preferable embodiments.

[0032]After the user has been connected to the third party, he views,
listens to, downloads, uploads and/or registers for proceedings in phase
250. In some preferable embodiments the proceedings may be a further
advertisement on a web page, an audio and/or a video presentation, a
conversation with a sales representative and/or a registration for the
receival of further information later by post, telephone, SMS and/or
email or a registration to a customer database for monitoring purposes.

[0033]In some embodiments the method 20 is realized in a cellular network
by sending a message in place of the operator logo on the terminal
display. Alternatively SMS-CB (Cell Broadcast), USSD, PDS (Packet Data on
Signalling Channels) or WAPPush may be used to display the message
directly on the screen. This message may contain instructions on an
action to be taken if the logical response of the user is "Yes", for
example it may contain a telephone number to which the user is connected,
or it may trigger an SMS message from the user or a request for an SMS
from the network or sender by USSD, SMS, or the like. A further message,
linked to the original message of SMS, USSD, SMS-CB (Cell Broadcast) may
be sent with the original message to contain these instructions in some
embodiments. In some embodiments this further message precedes the actual
message and initializes the device to display the message directly on the
screen. Typically a second transmission is sent and received and
associated with the first transmission, depicting attributes related to
user input, further actions and/or state of the first transmission or any
other attributes or instructions.

[0034]Upon any stage the network may also destroy or change the said
message by sending another message. In one embodiment, for example if the
position of the user changes, the HLR/VLR (Home/Visitor Location
Register) or an external location server may prompt the network or an
external messaging server to send a new message to update the message on
the terminal screen, or to delete the message on the terminal screen. A
necessary change of position may be for example leaving or entering a
cell.

[0035]Especially when the first message is a USSD message, it is typical
that the network, MSC, or an external server contains an USSD management
application that administers the display, change and connection and/or
response parameters of the messages on the user terminal displays.

[0036]In one embodiment the GSM terminal has dedicated software installed
to run and administer the process of displaying messages. In one
embodiment this software is realized as SIM Application Toolkit software
on the SIM card of the mobile terminal, in another alternative embodiment
it could be realized with a WAP-browser. This software recognizes
messages, for example SMS, SMS-CB, USSD, PDS or WAPPush messages that are
sent to the terminal, and displays the bioptional messages to the user on
the display. The recognition is typically done from a unique identifier
associated with the message, for example in the header of the message. In
some embodiments an initialization message preceding the actual message
may be used to set the terminal and associated software to a state where
the incoming message(s) is displayed on the screen. If the user takes a
dedicated action logically "Yes", the software will administer the
proceedings.

[0037]In phase 310 of FIG. 3 a transmission is sent to a recipient. The
transmission may be a discrete message, but it may also be a continuous
transmission and/or a real time transmission. Typically transmissions of
this sort are realized by GPRS-, UMTS-FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, UDP or by
some other direct data transfer protocol, and the said transmissions
and/or messages are recognized at the subscriber terminal. The
transmission may be a dynamic stream of e.g. IP-packets, or packets of
any other protocol, and the reading and viewing of some of the packets
may be begun even before the whole transmission has been received in some
embodiments. In phase 320 the recipient views the transmission or some
displayed parts of the transmission. In phase 330 the transmission or
some parts of it are arranged to ask the recipient whether to proceed
with further information. In some preferable embodiments, the user may be
promised money for viewing the advert. In some embodiments the message is
of the type: "New product X, interested Y/N? The phone bill/download is
on us! " In some preferable embodiments, the message may be of the type:
"New product X for 100$, interested Y/N? You get 1$ for viewing the
advert!"

[0038]If "NO" the process is terminated and the message and/or
transmission or some of its parts are deleted in phase 335. If "YES" the
subscriber terminal automatically connects to a third party designated by
the message. Any electronic address may be embedded in the transmission,
in some preferable embodiments.

[0039]In phase 350 the bits transmitted and/or received and/or connected
minutes are calculated. The calculation may be done by software at the
subscriber terminal or in the network or both.

[0040]After the user has been connected to the third party, he views,
listens to, downloads, uploads and/or registers for proceedings in phase
360. In some preferable embodiments the proceedings may be a further
advertisement on a web page, an audio and/or a video presentation, a
conversation with a sales representative and/or a registration for the
receival of further information later by post, telephone, SMS and/or
email or a registration to a customer database for monitoring purposes.

[0041]In some preferable embodiments, the phases 350 and 360 overlap or
are conducted simultaneously.

[0042]In phase 365, money can be refunded to the recipient on the basis of
bits transmitted and/or received and/or connected minutes. In some
preferable embodiments, the amount of refund is based on the promise in
the original message. In some preferable embodiments the refund is made
to the phone bill of the recipient. In some preferable embodiments a
cheque is posted to the owner of the subscriber terminal. In some
preferable embodiments, the user is given a discount on the price,
monthly fee, and/or per minute and/or per bit rate if the user accepts to
receive adverts on a continuous basis.

[0043]Same options for deleting or updating transmission streams or
associating transmission streams with each other exist as with discrete
messages in accordance with the invention.

[0044]In the phase 410 of FIG. 4 a message is sent to a recipient. The
recipient views the message in phase 420. In phase 430 the message asks
whether the recipient wishes to proceed with the proposal. In some
preferable embodiments the proposal may be of the form: "A single by
Beatles, "Yesterday" 50 cents, Interested Y/N?" In some preferable
embodiments the item to be sold is any data file, like a software
program, movie in digital format, music in digital format, map in digital
format, and/or any other document in digital format.

[0045]If "NO" the process is terminated and the message is deleted in
phase 335. If "YES" the subscriber terminal automatically connects to a
third party designated by the message. Any electronic address may be
embedded in the message, in some preferable embodiments.

[0046]After the user has been connected to the third party, he views,
listens to, downloads, uploads and/or registers for proceedings in phase
450.

[0047]In phase 460 the bits transmitted and/or received and/or connected
minutes are calculated. The calculation may be done by a software at the
subscriber terminal or in the network or both.

[0048]In phase 465, money can be charged from the recipient on the basis
of bits transmitted and/or received and/or connected minutes. In some
preferable embodiments, the charge is based on the price in the original
message. In some preferable embodiments the charge is added to the phone
bill of the recipient. In some preferable embodiments a bill is posted to
the owner of the subscriber terminal. In some preferable embodiments the
credit card numbers are automatically exchanged and the account is
automatically debited to complete the purchase. In some preferable
embodiments the credit card number of the subscriber is requested in a
separate step of the proceedings.

[0049]In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a mobile
station, and the message is an SMS message. In some of these preferable
embodiments the said message or some parts of the said message are
displayed in the telephony network operator logo, and/or the network cell
logo. In these embodiments the subscriber terminal is typically a GSM
mobile station.

[0050]In many embodiments of the described inventive methods permutations
of phases are possible and in accordance with the invention.

[0051]FIG. 5 presents a preferable embodiment of the subscriber terminal
in accordance with the invention. The subscriber terminal is typically a
PC computer, Apple Macintosh computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
or a UMTS-, GSM-, WAP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-,
and/or WCDMA mobile station. Typically in some preferable embodiments,
the subscriber terminal is a device using either the Microsoft Windows,
Windows NT, Windows CE, Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, Palm OS or the Epoc
operating system. In many preferable embodiments several default
facilities of the operating system are used to realize the inventive
advertising means.

[0053]The associated software 530 is arranged to recognize messages from
the inbox 540. In some preferable embodiments of the invention there is a
single inbox for SMS-messages, voicemail and emails. This is especially
the case with inventive subscriber terminals running the Epoc operating
system. However, the associated software 530 can monitor several inboxes
on the subscriber terminal or in the telephony network or the Internet.

[0054]In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a PC
computer, Apple Macintosh computer and/or a PDA (Personal Digital
Assistant). In these preferable embodiments the pop-up software typically
monitors the email inbox of the user on a server on the Internet or the
inbox on the subscriber terminal or both. When a special email is sent to
the inbox 540, it contains an identifying element that the pop-up
software 530 can recognize. Once this identifying element is recognized,
the message or some parts of it is popped to the monitor 550. In some
preferable embodiments the message is displayed on the desktop of the
computer. The message may read for example: "Pirelli tires 100$,
interested Y/N?" In some preferable embodiments the user presses Y to
connect to the party for further proceedings. If he presses N, or some
other key, or does nothing for a predefined time, the message disappears
and is deleted.

[0055]In some preferable embodiments the message is not delivered by
email, but MMS is used instead. In some preferable embodiments it may be
delivered directly to the subscriber terminal by FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP,
UDP or by some other direct transfer protocol, and the pop-up software
recognizes the said transmissions. In these embodiments the inbox is
preferably not needed.

[0056]In all or some of the embodiments the display of the advert may be
enhanced by audio and/or video by the audio/video devices 590. In some
preferable embodiments, the message is not deleted, but stored to the
storage means 560. The storage means may be a hard drive, CD-ROM,
computer disk, computer memory or any other electromagnetic storage
means. In some preferable embodiments this is done by moving the message
and/or transmission to the "Recycle Bin" of the operating system.

[0057]In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a WID
(Wireless Information Device) that runs Epoc, Windows CE, Palm OS, GEOS,
and/or Windows Pocket PC operating system. In some preferable embodiments
the message and/or the transmission is delivered by MMS, SMS, email, by
FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, UDP or by some other direct data transfer
protocol, and the pop-up software recognises the said transmissions
and/or messages. In some preferable embodiments the message or some parts
of it are shown on at least one display of the smartphone by the pop-up
software 530. In some preferable embodiments the pop-up software 530 is
arranged to use several application engines of the operating system. For
example in Epoc, the pop-up software may introduce a completely new
messaging subsystem. In some preferable embodiments this is done simply
by registering additional MTMs (Message Transfer Module). In Epoc, the
MTMs are introduced by the Epoc Email app, which is arranged to support
Internet mail SMTP, POP3, IMAP4, fax and SMS.

[0058]In some preferable embodiments there is at least one special MTM,
which recognises the messages that should be popped to the display. In
some preferable embodiments the messages are not necessarily adverts, but
can be messages of any type.

[0059]Typically smartphones have one phone display and one computer
display. In some preferable embodiments the message or some parts of it
are displayed in place of the telephony network operator logo, and/or the
network cell logo, on the telephony display and/or on the computer
display.

[0060]If the user is uninterested of the message, he may destroy it by
pressing a key or by doing nothing for a predefined period. Once this
option is realized the message is typically deleted and/or moved to the
"Recycling bin."

[0061]The message typically embeds an electronic address, which can be
contacted by a dedicated key if proceedings are desired. In some
preferable Epoc embodiments of the invention several application engines,
dial up, NIFMAN, Internet protocols like PPP or other, and/or Web app are
used automatically to realize the communications connection to the said
third party.

[0062]In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a GSM
mobile station. In these preferable embodiments the inbox 540 is
typically a SMS inbox. The pop-up software 530 is embedded in the code of
the mobile station. Once the message, typically an SMS message, or
transmission, typically a DTMF-tone or a FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, UDP or
some other direct transfer protocol transmission via GSM data, is
received the message or some parts of it are displayed on the display
550. In some preferable embodiments the message or some parts of it are
displayed in place of the telephony network operator logo, and/or the
network cell logo.

[0063]The message may read for example: "Pirelli tyres 100$, interested
Y/N?" In some preferable embodiments the user presses Y to connect to the
party for further proceedings. If he presses N, or some other key, or
does nothing for a predefined time, the message disappears and is
deleted. In some embodiments indications may be changed, for example
pressing # may indicate "Yes" in some preferable embodiments.

[0064]Once "Yes" has been indicated the subscriber terminal will dial a
number embedded in the message, or open a data connection, like GSM-data
to an IP address, URL address or any other electronic address.

[0065]In many of the presented embodiments after the user has been
connected to the party designated in the message, he views, listens to
and/or registers for proceedings. The party may be for example the
caller, and contact can be made on the basis of Caller ID in some
preferable embodiments. In some preferable embodiments the proceedings
may be a further advertisement on a web page, an audio and/or video
presentation, a conversation with a sales representative and/or a
registration for the receival of further information later by post,
telephone, SMS and/or email.

[0066]In some preferable embodiments, the subscriber terminal is arranged
to play a sound, a beep and/or ring tone for example, upon arrival of the
message and/or transmission. In some preferable embodiments, the message
and/or transmission may contain a ringtone, and/or a WAV- and/or an
MP3-file, which is played at the recipient subscriber terminal.
Alternatively in some embodiments the transmission may be arranged to
trigger the playing of a particular file.

[0067]In some preferable embodiments, the users can decline to accept
incoming messages by a dedicated action that sends a signal to the
network. In some preferable embodiments this disables all or some parts
of the information exchange between the Home Location Register of the
cellular network and third parties. In some preferable embodiments the
user may invite incoming messages by enabling the network to transmit
information from the Home Location Register to third parties. In many
preferable embodiments enabling and disabling are done by a dedicated
signal recognized by the network. In some preferable embodiments the
signal is an email, SMS and/or an MMS message and/or a transmission
delivered by FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP and/or UDP and/or the transmission
is a DTMF tone or a phone call.

[0068]The invention has been explained above with reference to the
aforementioned embodiments and several commercial and industrial
advantages of the invention have been demonstrated. With the method in
accordance with the invention the recipient can receive advertisements or
other short messages with the shortest manipulation time possible. No
navigation, browsing of inboxes, copying and/or pasting of telephone
numbers needs to be done. The user is shown the message automatically,
and he may delete it or receive further information on it with one single
press of a dedicated key.

[0069]The invention has been explained above with reference to the
aforementioned embodiments. However, it is clear that the invention is
not only restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possible
embodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought and the
following patent claims.